I suspect this has something to do with Sarah Palin's endorsement of McCain.

A lot of the blogosphere has been up in arms about Hayworth, calling him a "Birther." I disagree. He said that Obama ought to release his full birth certificate -- which is something a lot of non-Birthers, say too.

Maybe it's pandering. So? Are Birthers the only group on earth who shan't be pandered to? Are they guilty of such noxious beliefs that even a bit of innocuous pandering to them is beyond the pale?

Most politicians on the right side of things address this issue delicately, aware that maybe 1/3rd of the GOP vote believes in the birth certificate conspiracy to one extent or another. They try to come up with some formulation that doesn't commit them to birtherism, while also treating birthers respectfully. Gingerly, really.

Hayworth's formulation-- Obama should prove his constitutional eligibility -- is a good enough formulation, I think. If it panders too much -- well, that's up to people to decide.

I think it's fine. I say as much myself every time this issue comes up.

Let's not forget here that this is one of the few election cycles where we will ever have the chance to "trade up" for a more conservative candidate without risking the general election.

McCain was -- is -- a hero. He deserves respect. But there must be consequences to forever thwarting one's supposed constituents. We cannot afford to have a Senator from a red state perpetually selling us out to the left.

After he lost his House seat, he went around to GOP officials throughout the state and blamed his loss on...John Shadegg. Why? Because Shadegg's anti-earmark efforts throughout the state hurt Hayworth. Nevermind the fact that Hayworth lost because he chose to listen to the advice of Jack Abramoff instead of his constituents.

Sure, McCain sucks. But voting for JD Hayworth is not the solution. We don't need another corrupt big-spender tainting the GOP for years. We didn't get our asses kicked out of Congress because of McCain. We got the boot because the party turned into a big-spending circle jerk led by corrupt a-holes like Tom Delay. Let's not repeat history.

Honestly, while I knew that, I barely knew that, if you know what I mean. I have read (and promptly forgotten) Hayworth was a pal of Abramoff's.

Still. Look: Suppose we win in 2010 or 2012. Suppose we endeavor to repeal ObamaCare -- by reconciliation if necessary (which it probably would be).

I don't need the Hamlet of Arizona deciding that while Democrats used reconciliation to pass that abortion he's too principled to vote to use reconciliation to undo it.

McCain's big on showing off, ostentatiously, how "principled" he is -- and that's just the sort of jackass maneuver that would appeal to his ego.